The next phase of our vacation was for our family to travel with Don and Margrit by car ferry to Victoria, on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada – here David sits beside a statue of an early European explorer.

This photo shows David, Don and Margrit waiting to board the ferry from inside the ferry terminal – we were all very excited to visit Victoria and Vancouver B.C. by ferry, and then return by car back to Bellevue, WA.

Here I am waiting in the ferry terminal to board our ferry and begin our trip to Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada – my last visit to Vancouver Island was a boat trip I took with a friend in 1980, to Chatterbox Falls, B.C., Canada.

A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, as well as the Blue Angels aerial demonstration team, were visiting Seattle the week of our ferry trip, and I snapped this first photo of the carrier in the distance, prior to our ferry leaving the ferry terminal.

As our ferry pulled away from the Seattle ferry terminal, we were able to get a close look at the aircraft carrier – as our ferry began to turn north to begin our voyage through Puget Sound on our way to Victoria, B.C., Canada.

The Seattle skyline of 1996 begins to come nicely into view as our ferry heads out into Puget Sound – what I like in this photo is the contrast between the smooth water reflecting the downtown buildings, and the rippled water of Puget Sound.

What was especially nice during this photo shoot, was the fact that a two masted replica of an early explorer’s sailing ship was in the same field of view as the most modern of ships – a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier docked in port.

This is my favorite photo of this photo shoot, with each high-rise skyscraper in Seattle’s skyline generating its own individual shadow across the waters of Puget Sound.

This photo shows Seattle’s Space Needle behind the mid-section of the aircraft carrier, while approaching from the right was the little two masted replica sailing ship, contrasting the centuries of ship design between the two vessels.

A partially overcast day in Seattle, with patches of blue sky in-between, is a very nice day in the NW – most people think it rains all the time in Seattle, whereas it just normally looks like it will rain – and when it does it is more often a drizzle, rather than a downpour.

From what I can tell in this photo, this carrier looks like it is the USS Constellation (CV-64) – Wikipedia has an article and photo of the USS Constellation (CV-64) visiting Seattle in 1996: http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/ USS_Constellation_ (CV-64)

This is a nice photo that takes in most of Seattle’s 1996 skyline – with the USS Constellation (CV-64), the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter and the replica sailboat, all in the same field of view.

This photo shows the building’s shadows beginning to fade from view, as our ferry pulls further out into Puget Sound and farther away from Seattle’s skyline.

David searches the coastline as well as other ships with his binoculars, as our ferry continues underway through Puget Sound, while sitting inside beside his mom in the white sweater.

David holds onto the ship’s railing for all he’s worth with one hand, steadying himself in the stiff sea breeze to venture a quick wave, while underway in the middle of Puget Sound’s sea lanes.

Don and David pose along the ship’s railing on the exposed upper deck – while David holds onto his Chicago Bull’s hat to keep it from flying away in the sea breeze.

David and I pose for this photo while braving the strong sea breeze, while the ladies stayed inside where it was warm and comfortable.

Firmly holding onto the ship’s railing with both hands, David is confident in being able to stand up to the sea breeze – especially having removed his hat to keep from losing it.

From this perspective you can see the shoreline in the distance as we make our way through Puget Sound, while David secures himself to the railing for stability.

With an emergency life raft at the ready behind him, David ventures another wave as his hair is blown back in the wind.

There in the distance the skyline of Victoria, Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada, appears before us – soon we’ll arrive for an exciting time visiting one of our favorite cities!

’Life, Love and the Human Condition’ by Mark D. Jones

Welcome to my world! This blog is a place to capture all of the creative areas of my life into one spot that you can visit any time you like, and allow you to pause for a moment during the course of your day. You can see in the "categories section" the many creative interests that I have in my life - which I add to on a regular basis. Join with me in pondering the meaning of, "Life, Love and the Human Condition." So grab a cup of coffee or tea and spend a few minutes with me in my world...you may find it interesting and want to stay awhile! Enjoy!